Tension Vs. Compression Load Cell, What’s The Difference?

1 What is a load cell?
A load cell is a kind of force transmission that converts mechanical forces such as tension, compression, or torque to a quantifiable and regulated electrical output. Electrical current variation is proportional to the load applied to the load cell.
Load cells are usually made up of a coil spring with strain gauges attached to them. Steel or aluminum is often used for the spring element. It is quite strong but only slightly elastomeric.
A load cell system is helps to measure mechanical force that is typically expressed in terms of the object weight.
Almost all digital measuring scales nowadays employ load cells to determine the amount of weight being measured. It is because of the precision with that they can measure weight that they are so commonly used.
The load cell is available in a variety of configurations, including the following:
Single Point Load Cell: Our single point load cells are versatile due to their ability to be used for a broad variety of weighing applications.
They are often employed in platform scales that range in size from small to larger. ‘Off-center’ loads are reliably measured using this load cells. They are often used in the food, healthcare, and automobile sectors.

Figure 1: single point load cell
Ring Torsion Load Cell: In this case, the measurement component is a ring. When there is a load on it, its diameter changes at the top and expands in diameter from bottom to top.
Due to its unusually high maximum capacity, Ring Torsion Load Cells are often free of warping, making them excellent for rapid weighing.
Ring Torsion Load cells are ideal for massive platform gauges and any vessel weighing application.

Figure 2: Ring Torsion Load Cell
Digital Load Cell: It processes the signal in a different way compared to an analog load cell, that makes the signal stronger, the data sampling frequency faster, and the signal content better. The digital load cell is common since it can be used quickly, accurately, and cheaply.
Because digital load cells move so quickly, they are often used for sorting and packaging.
Figure 3: Digital Load Cell
Canister load cell: This load cell is utilized in applications that need a high level of deformation and bending resistance. We specialize in mass manufacture and customization of trade-approved canister load cells with a remarkable level of accuracy.
Figure 4: Canister load cell
Beam Load Cell: There are several uses for beam load cells, sometimes called bending load cells that are a typical kind of measuring equipment.
The metal spring element of a load cell deforms under the pressure of the loading, resulting in the bending moment measurement.
Our beam load cells find use in a wide number of sectors, including tank measurement, manufacturing engineering and industrial weighing.
Figure 5: Beam Load Cell
2 Tension load cell Vs. Compression load cell (an overview)

• A tension load cell measures the force required to separate materials, whereas a compression load cell measures the force required to compress materials together.
• A tension load cell measures the force required to separate materials, whereas a compression load cell measures the force required to compress materials. They are classified according to how the sensor deflects under pressure. Tension load cells are drawn apart instead of bent or compressed, whereas compression load cells are bent or compressed.
• Unlike tension load cells, which are torn apart, compression load cells are bent or squeezed. In contrast to a compression load cell that is designed to measure compressive load a tension load cell is designed to measure tensile weight.
• Tension load cells generally detect both compressive force and tension stress simultaneously, whereas compression load cells detect only compressive weight.
3 What is a tension load cell?
A tension load cell is a sensor that converts force or weight to an electrical signal using strain gauges. Typically, when a load is applied, the tension load cell’s main body deforms. Rather of being bent or compressed, this load cell is typically driven apart. A fantastic illustration of a tension load cell can be demonstrated a force operating on a tow line.
Figure 6: Tension load cell
4 How Does a tension load cell Work?
A tension load cell’s loading axis is parallel to the strain gauges. The wire section of the strain gauge is adjusted longer and thinner to improve the strain gauge’s electromagnetic resistance. Because the resistance change is proportional to the applied force exerted, it is possible to compute the amount of force employed.
For more information on tension load cells, you can contact us and our support team will be happy to serve you.
5 Materials chosen for Tension Load Cells
A tension load cell is made up of a metal body with metal strain gauges attached to it structurally. The tension load cell’s sensor body is commonly composed of aluminum or stainless steel, which offers the sensor two vital characteristics as follows.
• has the toughness to bear large loads
• has the flexibility to minimally bend and back to its original position when the force is withdrawn
Whenever a tension force is exerted, the metal body functions as a “spring” and is somewhat distorted; nevertheless, unless the metal body is overloaded, it will revert to its normal shape within a short time. As the flexure changes with time, the strain gauge impact on changes that in turn changes its electrical resistance. This causes a change in the differential voltage.
6 What is a Compression load cell?
It is called a compression load cell because it is used to measure how much pressure or squashing force is put on a certain object. They are normally mounted under the object being measured or weighed. In contrary to tension load cells, these load cells are unidirectional and only used to measure downward compression.
Internal workings of compression load cells can vary greatly. They might be based on shear, folding, ring-torsion, or column measurements. Although compression load cells have a broad multitude of uses, one of the most common is in extremely high capacity stationary weighing application areas like silos and truck scales.
We offer a variety of compression load cells, with options to accommodate both big and small volume orders, depending on the need. All of our items are designed and built by ourselves, assuring the use of high-quality materials and sturdy construction. If you want anything special, we can create a bespoke solution for you.
Figure 7: compression load cell
7 How Does a Compression load cell work?
Compression load cells, the same as all other modern load cells, are essentially transducers that convert the force applied to them into a readable electrical impulse. They do this by attaching strain gauges to the load cell’s structure. When the load cell is subjected to a compressive force, the load cell may deform. The strain gauges detect a voltage change because they flex in time with the body. This voltage output is proportional to the initial force, and it can be used to calculate the initial force or weight.
Compression load cells were created specifically for applications requiring a small working space, and they may be produced in a lightweight and compact way. They are especially well suited for the application of exceptionally large capacity loads. These load cells can withstand a weight of up to 50 tons.
If you need any information on compression load cells, simply notify us and our support staff will gladly help you.
8 Materials chosen for Compression load cells
Load cells are typically comprised of a mass on a spring where strain gauges are mounted for testing purposes. It is common for the spring element to be constructed of steel or aluminum which is durable while also being slightly stretchy.
Spring elements in compression load cells deform underweight yet rebound back to their original shape, elastically reacting to every load. Strain gauges may be used to measure these slight variations. A compression load cell uses the strain gauge’s deformation to calculate the weight.

9 Why is it important to understand the difference between tension load cell and compression load cell before purchasing/installation?

It is critical to understand the difference that exists between tension and compression load cells when choosing appropriate one for your business. Not every sensor is capable of measuring both forces. Additionally, tension and compression failure processes are unique; understanding this difference is crucial when constructing critical components for a building project.
Material is pulled apart when it is subjected to tension forces. A compressive force compresses matter. As a result, a load cell is fundamentally a force measuring tool. It is possible to measure compression forces, which are forces exerted on a device from sides. It is also possible to detect a tension force, which pulls away from the sensor.

Therefore, it is wise to understand the kind of load you are dealing with so that you can select either tension load cell or compression load cell that will be suitable for your business.

10 Main Differences Between tension load cell and compression load cell
• On tension load cell, pressure is transferred as force via tension whereas on the compression load cell, compression may be utilized to transmit force as the pressure in hydraulic pumps, but no compressive process occurs during the transmission of force as pressure.
• In contrast to tension measured in a tension load cell, compression measured in a compression load cell may be applied to any material, but tension can only be applied to solid strings.
• On a tension load cell, when an item is under tension, the force exerted on it is always directed away from the object. On the other hand, on a compression load cell when a load is compressed, the force exerted on it is directed inward toward the object.
11 Tension load cells and compression load cells are used in a variety of applications.
Applications of tension load cells
• Tank and silo measuring, patient hoist systems, and tensile load cell equipment are some of the applications for tensile load cells.
• Our tension load cell product line is well-suited for process weighing, general measuring, and lifting, applications.
• Tension load cells are often used in overhead cranes as well as other related applications.
• Additionally, tension load cells are utilized above the crane’s hooks, which are specifically built for usage with a crane hook. These applications are more straightforward and less difficult to set up. Several of these uses depend on wireless technology to transmit messages to crane operators, with wireless transmitters capable of recording and relay output, among other functions.
• Tensile strength is measured using tension load cells since they are used to quantify tensile and other sorts of tension forces. Additionally, they are utilized for hanging scales and hauling goods.
• The tension load cells in our collection have been carefully engineered for long-term performance. Each unit is constructed entirely of stainless steel and sealed from the inside out using glass-to-metal seals.
Applications of compression load cells
• Compression load cells can extensively be used in a number of industrial and technical applications. Compression load cells often have a low-profile button, which works well in circumstances where both lateral and above space is limited.
• Some compression load cells, like our canister load cell, are also suitable for portable use.
• Compression load cells are useful in situations where the load must be carried from compression to tension and tension to compression
• Material testing, press force calibration testing, and accurately weighing industrial compressive force are all examples of compression load cell uses.

Conclusion
In most cases, mechanical force is measured by a load cell. Nowadays, load cells are used to measure weight in nearly all electronic weighing scales. Because of its high degree of precision, scales are often employed to determine weight. Single point load cells, beam load cells, ring torsion load cells, canister load cells, and digital load cells are some of the commonly used load cells.
Loads may be placed on the compression load cell or tension load cell which holds the weight in place and measures the compression or tension forces respectively. With compression load cells, pushing force is measured in a single axis, while tension load cells measure a pulling force.
At CUBLiFT Company, we specialize in large-scale production and customization of load cells. If you need a load cell, you can contact us via our official website.